McCain: Obama "Choosing Failure" In Iraq War
(DENVER) – In some of his harshest words yet about Barack Obama, John McCain railed against his Democratic opponent today, accusing him of trying to cut off funding for the troops and "choosing failure" in the Iraq war.
"Fortunately, Sen. Obama failed, not our military. We rejected the audacity of hopelessness, and we were right. Violence in Iraq fell to such low levels for such a long time that Senator Obama, detecting the success he never believed possible, falsely claimed that he had always predicted it," McCain said.
"Sen. Obama said this week that even knowing what he knows today that he still would have opposed the surge. In retrospect, given the opportunity to choose between failure and success, he chooses failure. I cannot conceive of a Commander in Chief making that choice."
The Obama campaign said McCain's "false accusations" would not add to the debate over the Iraq war.
"Barack Obama and John McCain may differ over our strategy in Iraq, but they are united in their support for our brave troops and their desire to protect this nation," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton. "Sen. McCain's constant suggestion otherwise is not worthy of the campaign he claimed he would run or the magnitude of the challenges this nation faces."
McCain made the comments at the American GI Forum National Convention, which is a Mexican-American veterans and civil rights organization. Veterans care has been an issue that has come up numerous times at recent town halls McCain has held, and he reaffirmed his commitment to getting soldiers appropriate treatment.
"In addition to strengthening the VA, we should give veterans the option to use a simple plastic card to receive timely and accessible care at a convenient location through a provider of their choosing," McCain said.
"I will not stand for requiring veterans to make an appointment to stand in line to make an appointment to stand in line for substandard care of the injuries you have suffered to keep our country safe. Whatever our commitments to veterans cost, we will keep them, as you have kept every commitment to us."